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Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:22 pm
by TerryG
My modern is losing about 1l of water every month (about 2000-2500 miles). I can't find a source of the leak so my cunning scheme is to buy a filler cap for the overflow bottle, drill a hole in it and add the valve from an old inner tube with silicone to keep it air tight. Then using a foot pump over-pressure the system (20psi or so) and see if the leak becomes apparent.
Is doing this likely to break anything (other than whatever is already leaking)? I'm not planning on going daft with pressure but I know it's only designed for 15psi.
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:32 pm
by harvey
If it leaks in use, and the system is 15psi, then pump it up to that, if you go any further you will run the risks of causing extra leaks, rather than finding the one you've got already.
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:03 am
by Cambronne
It could be the water is going somewhere warm enough to let it evaporate away unnoticed. Try a detailed search with the system at full heat after a drive. Powder (e.g. talc) might help the pinpointing.
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:35 pm
by TerryG
It holds 15psi all night so that idea's out of the window. There must be an annoying set of circumstances that cause the leak. thanks for the talk suggestion, i'll get some and power it around all the hose joins to see if any gets wet.
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:32 pm
by 3xpendable
Is it the Mondeo Terry?
Mine had that issue though not as seriously and granted it's a petrol, but it turned out the water pump was leaking from the shaft seal, so it got sprayed around the belts and away when the car was running, and when it was stationary it was pooling up in the pulley! Might be worth a look.
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:35 pm
by TerryG
It's the Focus. I'll have another good look at the weekend.
I just know it will decide to become a major leak when stuck in traffic somewhere.
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 11:45 am
by Fatbloke
Had the same problem with Mrs FB's Touran.
Radweld has sorted it for the time being!
Re: Finding a slow water leak
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:07 pm
by TerryG
I've got bored looking so have gone back to tinkering with weekend toys. When the weather drys out so I can see the difference between spray, rain and radiator water i'll start investigating again. its a bugger as idling on the drive it doesn't lose a drop, driving around everything gets soaked by the rain.